Experimental Study on Marble and Brick Powders as Partial Replacement of Cement in Self-compacting Mortar

Aims: To produce a low environment impact concrete by recycling waste brick and waste marble. Background: Marble and brick wastes are produced as a byproduct during manufacturing or cutting processes. These materials could be used as a substitution to cement in mortar and concrete to reduce its environmental impact. Objective: To study the performance of self-compacting mortar with marbles and brick powders at the fresh and hardened states. Methods: It is an experimental investigation where two Blaine finenesses of marble and brick powders were used. Rheological, mechanical and physical properties of the new composites were studied. Results: The results show that for optimal workability and compressive strength of SCM, the maximum percent of substitution must not exceed 5% for brick powder, whereas for marble powder it can reach up to 20% according to the fineness of powder. The incorporation of brick and marble powders separately decreases the shrinkage of SCM and the combination of both powders has a positive effect on its sorptivity coefficient and total shrinkage. Conclusion: Maximum 5% and 20% of brick and marble powder respectively are recommended for optimal properties of self-compacting mortar.